Vanity case



Awaa l. 1939.A F. M. WILLIAMSON l 2,167,702

VANITY CASE Filed July 1l, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 1, 1939 F. M.WILLIAMSON VANITY CASE Filed July ll, 1938 2 Shees-Shee'rI 2 (IttornegsPatented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The present invention relates, in general, to vanity cases and, inparticular, to vanity cases of the self-cleaning type.

One of the main objects of the invention is to adapt a vanity casehaving a mirror with a pivoted mirror wiper which, when the case isopened, will clean a substantial mirror surface uniformly thereover.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vanity case having amirror container and a cosmetic container with a mirror wiping member,the latter being pivoted to the mirror container and guided in itstravel by a guide member on said mirror container, and said mirrorwiping member at its free end being pivotally actuated over said mirrorby said cosmetic container upon the opening and closing of the latter.

Another object is to provide a vanity case with a pivoted automaticmirror cleaning device which, at its free end, is guided across the faceof the vanity case mirror by a single guide mem-- ber of arcuate form,said guide member being substantially rigid for holding the mirrorcleaner with uniform pressure along its length against the mirror andwhich, because of its singularity, enhances the economy in production ofsuch device and simplicity in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vanity case having theusual mirror container, mirror and cosmetic container with a mirrorwiper which is pivoted to the mirror container for operative wipingengagement with the mirror and which is actuated by the swinging of onecontainer toward or from the other, said wiper being guided in itstravel and controlled in its pressure application at only one end,thereby minimizing the cost and time of production and assembly, makingpossible the installation of a wiper in an ordinary vanity case alreadyin use, and insuring long and continued use Without inconvenient repair.

Still other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from areference to the following specification taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which there are two (2) sheets and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a Vanity case in open position andshowing the invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the vanity case of Fig. l in closedposition, same being partly broken away to show more clearly thearrangement of parts while the case is closed;

Fig. 3 is a top edge elevation of the closed vanity case of Fig. 2 andshowing parts in section;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along the lines 4 4 and 5 5,respectively, in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8 6 in Fig. 1;

Figs. '7, 9 and l1 are views similar to Fig. 2 but show modificationsthereof; and

Figs. 8, 10 and 12 are sectional views taken along the lines 8 8, I Il Iand I2 I2, respectively, in Figs. '7, 9 and 11, respectively.

The vanity case shown in Figs. 1 through 6 comprises a pair ofcomplementary box-like containers I and I2, hinged as at I4 for swingingmovement toward and from each other, container Ill serving as a cosmeticcontainer and also as the cover for the vanity case, and container I2serving as a mirror container. In closed position containers Ill and I2are adapted for abutting relation along their iianged edges which formthe box-like structures, and a clasp arrangement (not shown) may beprovided for holding said containers in closed position, or, ifpreferred, the hinging means I4 may be resilient and adapted forrestraining the opening of the containers.

Container IU may be provided with means for holding cosmetics, such aspowder and rouge, in place therein, and the means shown, solely for thepurpose of illustration, comprises an inverted box-like member I6iitting and secured in any suitable manner into the container I0 andincluding a depression I 8 in which is usually received a powder puff.Member I6 is confined behind the plane containing the surface ofcontainer I6 which abuts container I2 when the two latter containers areclosed, and member I6 is spaced from the top of container l0, forreasons which will appear later.

Container I2 has disposed therein a mirror 20 which preferably has aconfiguration similar to the plan configuration of container I2 andwhich is adapted for fitting up against the flat surface thereof. A pad(not shown) mayor may not be provided between the container I2 andmirror 20. For holding mirror 20 in place container I2 is provided withan internal marginal flange 22 which engagingly encircles mirror 2lil atits periphery and serves to retain said mirror tightly in position incontainer I2. Mirror 20 and flange 22 are confined behind the planecontaining the surface of container I2 which abuts container I0 when thetwo containers are in closed position. Extending between opposite sidesof container I2, and secured to the exposed surface of flange 22thereat, is an arcuately shaped bar or guide member 24 which, because ofit being secured to the exposed surface of ange 22, is spaced frommirror 2|) a distance equal to the height that flange 22 extends abovethe surface of mirror 20. Member 24 is secured in any appropriate mannerto the flange 22, such as by welding, sweating, or otherwise, and isprovided, preferably, with a strengthening rib 26. Container l2,opposite the guide 24, is also provided with a cross plate 28 whichextends between opposite sides of container |2 and is secured, byWelding, sweating, or otherwise, onto the exposed surface of flange 22so that the under surfaces of plate 23 and guide 24 are substantiallyequally spaced from mirror 20.

To the under surface of plate 28 is pivoted, such as at 30, a wiper bar32 which extends from pivot 30 longitudinally across the face of mirror20 to a position below and beyond the guide bar 24, the latterconstraining wiper bar 32 to move in a plane adjacent to and parallelwith the face of mirror 20 as said wiper bar is pivoted about 30. Aninverted double U-shaped member 34 is secured to the underside of wiperbar 32, and same extends between the opposing edges of guide bar 24 andcross plate 2S. To member 34 along its length is secured by means ofsaid U- shaped portions a cleaning element 36, such as chamois, which isheld against the mirror 2) uniformly along its length by the pressureexerted on fbar 32 at its ends by guide 24 and plate 28.

The portion of wiper bar 32 which extends between the guide bar 24 andthe portion of flange 22 adjacent thereto provides a head 38 to whichone end of an arm 4G is pivoted, such as at @2.

i The other end of arm is pivoted, such as at to the Wall of container iwhich is spaced from the box-like member IS, the length of arm 4@equalling substantially the distance between pivot 44 and the side ofcontainer iii which is op posite its hinged side so that, whencontainers I and |2 are closed, arm 49 will be conned within the spaceprovided therefor above the member I. Arm a@ is also of such length asto carry wiper bar 32 from one side of the mirror 2B to the other whenthe containers are opened, and to cause the bar 32 to reverse its travelwhen the containers are closed.

The arrangement above described provides for compactness and simplicity,there being a minimum number of parts which are liable to get out oforder when the vanity case is used by a careless user. Opening of thecase exerts a pull at a minimum number of places, and to insure againstbreakage or inoperation stress need practically be laid only on therigidity of the guide member 24, since this member is the member uponwhich the greatest pull is exerted. When the vanity case is opened, apull through arm 4|] is exerted on guide member 24 and at the same timepush is exerted at pivot Bil so that cross plate 23 need not be verystrong. Guide 24, being rigid partly because of its short length ascompared to the longitudinal length of the vanity case itself, issuitably adapted for counteracting this pull, and wiper 32--34-26 isthereby kept in a plane adjacent to and parallel with the face of themirror 20 during its arcuate movement. It follows also that wiper bar 32may be made comparatively light and that the wiping structure, beingsupported by means at the plane of the exposed surface of flange 22 ofcontainer |2, is adapted for installation in a presently used vanitycase not already equipped therewith.

The device shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is similar to the device shown inFigs. 1 through 6, with slight differences. The marginal flange |22 ofcontainer |2 differs from the marginal flange 22 in that the exposedsurface thereof at the top end of the container |2 is up raised, such asat 46, to accommodate an extension 48 of wiper bar |32, bar |32 beingsimilar to bar 32 in all other respects. This arrangement eliminates thenecessity for the guide bar 24 disclosed in Figs. 1 through 6 and callsupon the portion 46 of the marginal flange |32 which retains the mirror28 in place to serve as the guide for the wiping structure |32--34-36.In this arrangement the bar 4|] is pivoted to the underside of head 38of bar |32, rather than as shown in Figs. 1 through 6, such differencebeing, naturally, a necessary difference.

Figs. 9 and l0 show a modification wherein bar 24 is still eliminated.The marginal flange 222 which retains mirror 20 in place is cut short offr the top end of container |2 and is provided thereat with an upwardlyextending double thickness edge flange 52, flange 55 extending arcuatelyacross the container I2 and providing at its under surface the guidingmeans for the head 38 of wiper bar 32. The mirror 29 is also shown asbeing out short of the top and of container |2, but it can just as wellextend therebeyond. Flange El) with its double thickness is thereby mademore rigid.

Figs. 1l and 12 show a structure similar to that shown in Figs. 9 and10, except that the flange 5E extends downwardly toward the back ofcontainer i2, rather than upwardly away therefrom as Figs. 9 and l0,this necessitating wiper bar 232 to be provided with a channel-shapedhead 52 for being received and guided by the under surface of the flange5B. The rigidity and guiding feature of llange 50 is still preserved.

Although the invention has been described with some detail, thedescription is not intended to limit the scope of the inventive idea.The right is reserved to make such changes in the specication anddrawings as will come within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror secured inand against displacement from one of said casings, a wiper elementengaging the face of said mirror and being pivoted at one end to saidcasing, and means connected to the other end of said element andactuated by the relative movement of said casings for moving saidelement in an arcuate path over the face of said mirror.

2. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror secured inand against displacement from one of said casings, a wiper elementpivoted at one end to said casing, means in said casing for constrainingsaid element into engagement with said mirror, and means connected tothe other end of said element and actuated by the relative movement ofsaid casings for moving said element in an arcuate path over the face ofsaid mirror.

3. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror secured inand against displacement from one of said casings, a wiper elementpivoted at one end to said casing, means in said casing for constrainingsaid element into engagement with said mirror and for constantlymaintaining said engagement, and means connected to the other end ofsaid element and actuated by the relative movement of said casings formoving said element in an arcuate path over the face of said mirror.

4. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror secured inand against displacement from one of said casings, a wiper elementpivoted at one end to said casing, means in said casing for constrainingsaid element into engagement with said mirror, and means connected tothe other end of said element and actuated by the relative movement ofsaid casings for moving said element in an arcuate path over the face ofsaid mirror, said first means comprising a guide for the end of saidelement to which said second means is connected.

5. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror secured inand against displacement from one of said casings, a wiper elementpivoted at one end to said casing, means in said casing for constrainingsaid element into engagement with said mirror, and means connected tothe other end of said element and actuated by the relative movement ofsaid casings for moving said element in an arcuate path over the face ofsaid mirror, said rst means comprising an arcuate guide for the end ofsaid element to which said second means is connected.

6. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror secured inand against displacement from one of said casings, a wiper elementpivoted at one end to said casing, means in said casing extendingbetween the sides thereof and above said mirror for constraining saidelement into engagement with said mirror, and means connected to theother end of said element and actuated by the relative movement of saidcasings for moving said element in an arcuate path over the face of saidmirror.

7. In a vanity case having a pair of casing members hingedly secured toeach other at an edge thereof, a mirror in one of said casing mem bers,said member being provided with means for holding said mirror in placetherein, a Wiper element pivoted at one end to said member, a guidemember for said element extending between the sides of said casingmember above said mirror and formed on said rst means, and meansconnected to the opposite end of said element and to said other casingmember for moving said element on and across the face of said mirrorabout said pivot through an arcuate path during relative movement ofsaid casing members.

8. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror in one ofsaid casings, said casing having a marginal flange over-lappinglyengaging the edges of the face of said mirror, a guide member spaced.above said mirror and secured to opposite portions of said ange, a wiperelement in engagement with the face of said mirror and having one endconstrained beneath said guide member for sliding movement relativethereto and having the other end pivoted to said casing, and actuatingmeans for said wiper element interconnecting the free end thereof withsaid other casing and actuated by the relative movement of said casingsfor moving said wiper element through an arcuate path cn and over theface of said mirror.

9. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror in one ofsaid casings, said casing having a marginal ange overlappingly engagingthe edges of the face of said mirror, an arcuate guide member spacedabove said mirror and from an edge of said flange and secured toopposite portions of said ange, a wiper element in engagement with theface of said mirror and having one end constrained beneath said guidemember for sliding movement relative thereto and having the other endpivoted to said casing, said sliding end of said wiper element extendingto a position between said flange and said guide member, and actuatingmeans for said wiper element interconnecting the sliding end thereofwith said other casing and actuated by the relative movement of saidcasings for moving said wiper element through an arcuate path on andover the face of said mirror.

l0. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror in one ofsaid casings, said casing having a flange overlappingly engaging amarginal portion of said mirror and including an interrupted lengthspaced above said mirror, a pivoted wiper element engaging the face ofsaid mirror and having its free end extending underneath the interruptedlength of said flange for being constrained against the mirror thereby,and means interconnecting said free end of said element and said othercasing for actuating said element about its pivoted end and relative tosaid interrupted portion during the opening and closing of said casings.

1l. In a vanity case having a pair of hinged casings, a mirror in one ofsaid casings, said casing being formed with a flange overlappinglyengaging a portion of the marginal border of said mirror, said flangeabove the exposed portion of said mirror border being formedsubstantially normal to a plane parallel with the face of said mirror, awiper element engaging said face of said mirror and pivoted to saidcasing, said element at its free end extending beyond and in slidingengagement with the under surface of said portion of said flange normalto said plane, and means between said free end of said element and saidother casing for actuating said element through an arcuate path on andover the face of said mirror as said casings are moved toward and awayfrom each other.

FLOYD M. WILLIAMSON.

